Butter-cutter.



(No Model.)

Patented Sept. 4, I900. R. F. STEWART. BUTTER CUTTER.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l. 2 5

5111/11/13 MI 11 111i (Lu July.

THE Norms PETERS cu. moromnu, WASHINGTON, n. c

No. 657,227. r Patented Sept. 4, I900. R. F. STEWART.

BUTTER CUTTER.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1899.)

2 Sheets$heet 2,

(No Model.)

denier: (mi

I .4. mrwy ms Nonms FEYERS co. wuo-o-ummwAsumumN, n. c.

I NrTEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD F. sTEwAET, on MOUNT PLEASANT, NEW YORK.

BUTTERQGUTTER.

srEcIEroATroN forming part of Letters Paar. No. 657,227, dated September4., 1960. Application filed November 22,1899. Serial No. 737,860. (Nomodel.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD F. STEWART, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Mount Pleasant, in the county ofWestchester, State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Butter-Cutters, of which the followingis aspecification.

In putting up butter in small packages for consumption it is verydesirable that the butter shall be cut into the size block desired andnot pressed into a form or mold, as by such pressing and consequentworking over the fiber or grain of the butter is apt to be injured andthe juice or water pressed out. This improvement relates to a cuttingapparatus whereby butter can be cut into blocks or cakes of varioussizes without being pressed or manipulated in any manner.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a top viewof the cutting apparatus, showing thecutting-wires. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same throughthe line as on, Fig. 1. stretching devices; and Fig. 4 is a verticalsection of the same through the line :1) y, Fig. 3. 5 is a sectionalview of the clamping device at the top of the frame through the line ac, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a side view of a wire-spacing bar. Fig. 7 is a topView of the apparatus, showing the horizontal cutter in place and readyto be operated. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the same through theline 8 8, Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section throughthe line 9 9, Fig. 7.

1 is a horizontal frame, preferably square, and formed of angle-iron tohave the necessary lightness and strength, to the under side of which atthe corners are securedfour vertical rack-bars 2, by which the frame issup ported and moved up and down.

3 is a second metallic frame of a shape and size to rest upon the top ofthe frame 1, to which the cutting-wires 4 are secured. The frame 3 fitswithin the corner-blocks 5 on the frame 1 and is held down upon andattached to the latter frame by the corner-buttons 6, fastened to theblocks 5 by the screw 7, where by as the frame 1 is drawn down by theratchet-bars 2 the frame 3, with the cuttingwires, is carried down withit. To detach Fig. 3 is a top view of one of the wire-.

the frame 3, it is only necessary to loosen the screws 6 and turn thebuttons around, so that the frame can be lifted from the blocks 5.

The frame 3 consists of the top and bottom bars 8 9, integrally unitedat the corners, as shown in Fig. 5-. On the upper surface of the bar 8on the four sides of the frame are thin plates 10, secured by screws, towhich are fixed lugs 11, Fig. 3, supporting worm-screws 12, providedwith keys 13. These wormscrews engage with wheels 14, whose stems 15 arejournaled in the bars 8 and 9. Around the stems 15, between the bars 8and 9, are wrapped the ends of the cutting-wires 4:, each end of each ofthe wires being secured to and wrapped around such stems 15 at theopposite sides of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1. As will be evident,when the worm-screws 12 are turned by their respective keys the wireswill be further wrapped around the stems 15, and thus tightened. Withthis mechanism it is possible to draw the wires very taut and to holdthem in this condition without their becoming loosened or slack as theyare forced through the butter. Wooden gage-blocks 16 may be employed tospace and maintain the wires the requisite distance apart. Thecutting-wires may be arranged and spaced on the frame to cut blocks ofany size and shape desired. When it is wished to change the shape orsize of the block, another frame suitably arranged is sustituted for thefirst frame in the manner described above.

The frame 3, with the cutting-wires 4, secured on top of the frame 1 bythe block 6, as above set forth, is drawn down by the rackbars 2,attachedto the four corners of the lower frame 1, which engage withcog-wheels 17, affixed to shafts 18, journaled in bearings 19 and 20 ontwo sides of the apparatus. At one end of the shafts 18 are gears 21,which engage with the'worm-gears 22 on the crossshaft 23, operated bythe' crank 24:, whereby, as will be seen by the drawings, when the crankis turned the rack-bars 2 are drawn 1 down together with the frames land 3 with the cutting-wires. 9

The butter 24 to be out is placed on a base or standard 25 in the centerof the apparatus and below the wires where the frames 1 and 3 are raisedin their uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 2. As the frames arecarried down, as above described, the cutting-wires 4 are drawn downthrough the butter and cut the latter vertically into vertical strips orsections. The butter having been thus cut vertically, these verticalstrips are next cut horizontally by the horizontal cutter into blocks.This horizontal cutter is shown in Figs. 7 to 9.

26 is a-U-s'haped frame pivoted to links 27, which are hinged tobifurcatedlugs 28 on one side of the lower frame 1. The frame 26 canthus be raised and turned back against the wall or other support whenthe vertical cutter is being operated and can be turned downhorizontally, so as to rest on the top of the block of butter resting onthe base 25. On the lower ends of the links 27 are curved shanks 29,which act as stops when the frame is thrown back. From the front of theframe, at right angles thereto, extends a bar 30, having the inwardprojections 31 and 32. The projection 31 is so placed as to rest on topof the bar 8 of the frame 3 when the frame 26 is turned down in ahorizontal position, and thereby furnish a support for the latter frame,while the projection 32 fits under the edge of the frame 1, the frame 26admitting of a sufficient forward-and-backward movement for thispurpose. The frame 26 is thus securely locked to the vertical frames 1and 3 and is firmly held in a horizontal position during the operationof cutting the butter. On the under side of the frame 26 is a block 33,which when the frame is turned down on the block of butter rests againstthe front of the latter. On the sides of the top of the frame 26 aregages 34, on the outer edges of which are the side racks 35. These gagesand racks are adjust-ably connected to the top of the frame by thescrew-posts 36, turningin flanges 37 on the sides of the frame. Byturning these posts in the proper direction the gage and rack are raisedor lowered, according to the depth of the section of butter to be cut bythe horizontal cutter, so that the gage and rack will always be on thetop of the butter.

38 is a second U-shaped frame connected to and arranged to slide backand forth on the frame 26. On the back ends of the frame 38 are flanges39, which embrace the top of the frame 26 and serve, together with theroller 40, to hold the frame 38 on the frame 26. The roller 40 isjournaled in an upright 41, connected to the frame 38, secured to thebottom of which is the horizontal cuttingwire 42. As the roller 40 is soplaced on the upright 41 as to press against and revolve on the bottomof the frame 26 and the flanges 39 embrace the top of the frame, theframe 38 is securely held on the frame 26 as it is moved back and forthon the latter. In the upper end of the upright 41 is adj ustablyjournaled the printing-roller 43, on the outer ends of which are thepinions 44, which engage with the rack 35 and cause the roller torevolve. The roller is held in the slide-blocks 45 on the upright-41,whereby it may be raised or lowered to correspond with the adjustment ofthe rack by the screw-posts 36.

The operation of the cutter is as follows:

The block of butter to be cut from the tub or box is placed on theplatform or standard 25 under the frames 1 and 3. The crank 23 is thenturned, drawing down the frames with the cutting-wires 4, cutting theblock of butter into vertical strips or sections of the desired size.The horizontal cutting-frame 26 is then turned down on top of the butterand locked in position on the frames 1 and 3. The frame 38, having thecutting-wires 42, is then drawn across the butter, cutting thevertically-cut strips into the blocks or sections required, the block ofbutter as it is being severed by the horizontally-moving wire pressingagainst the block 33. The wire 42 passes close to the under side of thisblock 33, causing a shearing out between the wire and block. In practiceit is found more do sirable to cut the butter vertically only to thedepth desired for the severed section, cut this section or layer by thehorizontal cutter, and then draw down the vertical cutters to the depthof another layer, and so on.

If desired, the vertical cutter or cuttingframes may be used bythemselves and the blocks or cakes severed horizontally by any separatesuitable device.

While I prefer the particular construction here shown and described,this construction may be varied without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What I claim is 1. A butter-cutter comprising a verticallymoving framecarrying cutting-wires across its top, having mechanism by which theframe is drawn down on the butter, whereby the wires are caused to passthrough the butter, and cut the latter into vertical strips, and

a horizontally-moving frame, connected to.

and moving with the vertical cutting-frame,- and carrying acutting-wire, and arranged and adapted to be drawn across the block ofbutter and cut the latter, substantially as described.

2. In a butter-cutter, in combination, a ver tically=moving frame,having cuttingwires across the top; mechanism by which the frame isdrawn down whereby the wires are forced vertically through the butter; ahorizontallymoving frame, having a cutting-wire, and arranged andadapted to be drawn across the. vertically-moving frame whereby thebutter is cut horizontally; and means by which the horizontally-movingframe is held on and secured to the vertically-moving frame,substantially as described.

3. In a butter-cutter, in combination, the vertically-moving frame 1,connected at each corner with the upright standards 2; detachable frame3 provided with outting wires, and arranged to be secured to the frame1;

and mechanism whereby the standards 2 are drawn down with the frames 1and 3, and the cutting-wires forced vertically through the butter,substantially as described.

4. In abutter-cutter, in combination, avertically-moving frame;mechanism by which the frame is drawn down; a second frame detachablysecured to the first frame, and provided with cutting wires, whereby asthe frame is drawn down, the wires are forced vertically through thebutter; a horizontallymoving frame, provided with a cutting-wire, andarranged and adapted to be drawn across the vertically-moving frames,whereby the wire is forced horizontally through the butter; and means bywhich the horizontally moving frame is held on and secured to thevertically-movin g fram es,substantially as described.-

5. In a butter-cutter; in combination, the

vertically-moving frame 1; the second frame 3; having the wires 4secured thereto by the key-screws 12, whereby the Wires are drawn tightacross the frame; means by which the frame 3 is detachably secured toframe 1; mechanism connected to frame 1 whereby the frames are drawndown, and the wires 4 forced vertically through the butter; frame 26hinged to frame 1 and arranged to rest horizontally on the latter frame,and frame 88, provided with the wire 42, and connected to and adapted tobe drawn horizontally across the frame 26 whereby the wire 42 is forcedin a horizontal direction through the butter, sub stantially asdescribed.

I RICHARD F. STEWART. Witnesses:

LOUISE E. RYER, DAVID M. Wom n;

